DC TV Shows Not Doing So Well on Fox, Two New Concepts Announced

It’s the time of year when TV networks present their show schedules for the coming year to advertisers (called the “upfronts”), so there’s been lots of news regarding what’s coming back and what’s been cancelled. While iZombie got renewed at the last minute (for what will be its final season), and all of the CW’s DC shows are safe (given their sister company status, not terribly surprising), the DC shows on Fox aren’t doing quite as well.

Lucifer, which I quite enjoy, won’t get a fourth season, although star Tom Ellis is plugging a #SaveLucifer campaign. And apparently there are two unaired episodes, although the season 3 finale aired earlier this week.

Gotham, Fox’s other DC show, was touch and go for a while, finally getting a fifth and final season of 13 midseason episodes. How much can you keep drawing out a prologue, anyway?

I guess we’re going to find out with Pennyworth, a 10-episode 2019 series for Epix set in 60s London where the man who becomes Batman’s butler “forms a security company and goes to work with Thomas Wayne, Bruce’s billionaire father”. It’s from executive producer/writer Bruno Heller and executive producer/director Danny Cannon, the guys behind Gotham. As long as the well keeps drawing, you can keep going to it.

Also announced is another show for the DC streaming service DC Universe. Doom Patrol, a spin-off of the Titans streaming series, will start in 2019 with 13 episodes.

On the cable channels, Preacher will get a third season. (I often forget about this because I don’t watch it. I love the cast but can’t take the violence.) And I’m curious to see if Krypton gets another season on Syfy, since I have never heard anyone say anything about it.

I honestly can’t believe that they’ve already announced a Titans spinoff series before the first episode of Titans has even aired. Or if their streaming network is going to get any subscribers. WB/DC must be pretty positive that this is going to work.

But I can believe that Fox’s DC shows aren’t doing great. Gotham was such a depressing drag for its first season that I gave up on it (though I heard it got somewhat better) and the idea of a “romantic/buddy procedural” where the Devil is one of the buddies is just such a weird premise that steps on a number of religious hotbuttons that I’m honestly a bit surprised it has lasted 3 seasons (that’s a testament to how good the show actually is I’d say – a mediocre show with that premise wouldn’t have lasted half a season).

That’s a good question, about how successful the streaming service will be. But it’s the way everyone’s moving, since they don’t like Netflix getting so much traffic that they want to monetize for themselves. WB does have several other specialized audience services they can look to for history, including Boomerang and Filmstruck.

Krypton is fabulous if you are a big fan and/or know much of the Superman mythos. Not much is really said in the comics of the history of Superman’s home world, so it adds to it. Alfred is one of the most loved Batman characters (including myself) so I can’t wait to see it!!!! I love Gotham too, but this does need to be the final season. DC and Marvel both always been dark, so I can’t understand some of the complaints to be honest. You’ve maybe only watched the animated series, or never read any of the comics (example: Killing Joke). Even superman can get dark (Injustice.) I do prefer the lighter comics myself, too, and this is the darkest I’d wanna go with my favorite characters ( I hate the killing joke). I just don’t understand the hate. Maybe I’m just not as picky as the other hardcore fans. Eh.

Oh, I’ve read a few tons of comics — only they range from the 50s to the 90s, so they weren’t all dark, grim, and gritty. And I don’t see hate, just an acknowledgement that some of the shows aren’t for me or people who want fun superheroes. But maybe I’ve avoided the areas where those folks are hanging out. I’m glad you’re enjoying Krypton!